[Quite Possible] Terrence Jones as our Future Center

Put Montiejunas' numbers in the list. I see the Rox making an offensive C out of him. McHale keeps talking about the evolution in the league to small ball.

 

BLASPHEMER!!

Oh, wait...sarcasm. Carry on!

 

Terrence Jones certainly isn't "small", and is more than adequate rebounder. He can definitely be arguably our best rebounding big man(if Marcus isn't coming back).

My issue with him, does he have the mentality to play C?

If he can adequately play C, as in come out on pick & rolls, block 1-2 shots a game, and grab 9-10 rpg, then ys. We got a dangerously versatile center.

 

Weight does not equal to strength. If you look at his bench press numer at combine, it's worse than rookie Patterson who is even stronger than at the combine couple years ago. Also the center position needs very strong lower body.

Terrance Jones should concentrate on playing PF first. He's projected to be a PF/SF type player. He's a good tweener who will be considered a success if he can play PF full time. There're many good sized PF's he's going to take care of.

 

Frankly, I would rather not go for an undersized center, because unless you have Chuck Hayes type strength, they can't defend against or score easily on the bigger legit centers.

 

Royce White??

 

Great point to the OP.

As we've all seen, McHale likes to play small and take the Center out the game in the 4th quarter. Maybe he'll use T. Jones in that spot at times. I guess we will see in due time...

 

Royce White combine measurements:
height with shoes: 6' 8"
Weight: 260.6 lbs
Wingspan 7' 0"
Standing Reach 8' 8.5"
One of, If not, the strongest to ever get drafted. Would have put up 185 probably 29 times.

 

Is that all you measured ? where are Greg Oden's stats ?

 

I first saw this number from another poster, who mentioned that it's his number before the freshmen year. And he's now even stronger.

 

nice analysis on measurements, but... no.

terrence jones is NOT a center. he's a SF, and could possibly grow to become a PF.

hey we need a center... so i don't blame you... but... no.

 

Yes I remember when Amare played center for the Suns. That worked well during the regular season because they were a RUN and GUN team. When the Playoffs started and the games slowed down and you need a Half Court game in order to be effective they folded like a cheap suit.

As for your claim that there are many centers that Jones can't defend... like I mentioned Jones is going to have enough trouble guarding the elite 3's and 4's of the league which there are plenty of. There's more to playing the 5 position than just scoring like you're thinking.

You keep trying to justify your point by trying to disguise Jones as being something he absolutely is not nor will ever be. It makes zero sense for him to play the 5 because he's best utilized and will be most effective as a 3 or a 4. ********If******* he plays the 5 it's going to be because we're in deep foul trouble or we're plaing small ball.

 

Jones is a versatile guy. For most center match ups in the NBA he would be fine... but he's not a long term solution for that position.

He would be better utilized as a 3-4 imho. Mainly because of his ability to drive to the basket. Defensively, I think he could hold his own in the paint right now with nearly all the PF in the league (with a few exceptions) but I wouldn't feel nearly as confident vs. centers

 

T Jones can play center now? Lmao this is the funniest thing I've read all day. Measurements/height don't always mean you can play a certain position

 

Terrence is ideally a PF, but can also play C and SF.

Like Medicine N Music stated, he's already heavier and longer than 2 talented starting Centers. Additionally, he's only 20. You don't think he can add any more muscle? Come on now.

This is what nbadraft.net had to say about him recently regarding his performance at the NBA Draft Combine:

"Terrence Jones stood out, showing aggression defending the post, a more polished back to the basket game and confident/soft midrange jumper. Earlier in the day he caught a pass on the baseline and exploded at the rim for a dunk over his defender."

Someone blocking nearly 2 shots per game, that's just as big as current centers, with aggressive post defense and a polished back to the basket game, who is still maturing physically, can certainly play center.

 

Occasionally, yes. But Dmo, Ppat and White all can do that. His blocks in college are not from defending centers.

 

Just because you can play something doesn't mean you should. Lebron CAN play center but he's not, he's a sf. Jones is not a banger, he's basically a poor mans josh smith with more weight. Would you play josh smith at center?

 

We wont need to talk about this if Morey lands Asik. If he is paying Asik 8 million dollars per year. It would be a major let down to have a rookie take his job.

 

My first sentence stated "Terrence is ideally a PF..."

My point was that he has the tools to be a center - perhaps even effectively. Thus, if we have to pick someone to "fill-in" as backup to Asik, Jones is a legitimate candidate. However, ideally, he'll be playing PF.

There's going to be an interesting battle for the PF position next season (White, Dmo, Jones, Ppat, Leuer). All these guys can play.

I think Jones makes a better center, than White a SF. Come to think of it, White would be an interesting center.